Senior Communications Project Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About Akoya

We’re a woman-owned small business that delivers big results in strategic communications. For 25 years, Akoya has thrived in the government consulting landscape helping agencies launch new programs, leverage internal and external support, and drive their missions forward. Our strategic approach to communications increases the quality of services and makes Akoya a comfortable home for motivated communications professionals who value and rely on the idea-sharing and collaboration inherent in our corporate culture.

Senior Communications Project Manager

Akoya is looking for a Senior Communications Project Manager to support Department of Energy engagements. In this role, you will help oversee the day-to-day operations of complex federal contracts, ensuring compliance with requirements and supporting the consistent delivery of high-quality communications, engagement, and outreach services.

You’ll serve as one of the primary points of contact for DOE clients while leading execution across multiple concurrent workstreams. This is a hands-on role that blends operational leadership with direct contribution—you’ll help set priorities, manage team workload, track progress against milestones, and step in to support deliverables when needed to keep work on track.

The right person is an operator: someone who brings structure to ambiguity, builds and manages detailed plans for deliverables, and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. You are an exceptional communicator who can translate complex information for different audiences, facilitate collaboration across teams, and navigate sensitive conversations with confidence and professionalism. You are also proactive, accountable, and decisive—able to guide a team through shifting demands while maintaining momentum under tight deadlines.

What You'll Do

• Own day-to-day execution of DOE engagements, overseeing contract operations to ensure compliance with requirements and consistent delivery of high-quality services.
• Lead delivery across multiple concurrent workstreams, coordinating tasks, timelines, and dependencies to ensure all work is completed on time and to standard.
• Manage a team of communications contractors, actively monitoring workload, setting priorities, and rebalancing resources to meet evolving demands.
• Serve as one of the primary day-to-day client contacts, driving status discussions, managing expectations, and ensuring transparency into contract performance and progress.
• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules and trackers, enabling proactive planning and execution rather than reactive delivery.
• Advise clients on communication approaches for sensitive issues, emerging priorities, and organizational initiatives.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate a wide range of strategic communications products, including speeches, talking points, blog posts, announcements, executive messages, and briefing materials.
• Develop clear, compelling messaging that aligns with client objectives and resonates with diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Translate complex technical, policy, and programmatic information into accessible, audience-appropriate content.
• Review deliverables to ensure message alignment, consistency, accuracy, and overall quality prior to client submission.
• Identify, communicate, and mitigate risks related to scope, timelines, and team capacity before they impact delivery and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Step in to directly support or complete deliverables when needed to meet critical deadlines or address team capacity gaps.
• Build and refine processes, tools, and workflows that improve efficiency, ensure compliance, and strengthen long-term contract performance.

Requirements

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and at least 10 years of experience. Alternatively, must have a master’s degree in a relevant field and 7 years of experience.
• U.S. citizenship is required with verbal and written fluency in English.
• Must be able to receive and maintain a federal security clearance (public trust level).
• 7+ years of professional consulting, federal contracting, or equivalent experience, with at least 3 years supporting federal clients (DOE strongly preferred).
• Must be based in Washington, D.C. This onsite role will report to the federal client location daily.
• Experience leading and managing teams, including assigning work, balancing workloads, and adjusting priorities to meet evolving demands.
• Proven ability to serve as a primary client point of contact, building trust while driving execution and managing expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively under competing demands and exercise sound judgment under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and consistency across all deliverables.
• Strong writing and editing skills with a track record of producing and reviewing client-ready deliverables from ambiguous or incomplete inputs.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain schedules for deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement processes, tools, and workflows rather than just executing existing ones.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, including styles, templates, complex formatting, cross-references, tracked changes, and document comparison.
• Familiarity with responsible AI principles and practices.

Base Compensation

• Base compensation: $120,000 to $130,000 annually. Actual compensation is subject to variation due to factors such as location, education, years of experience, and candidate skillset.

Employee Benefits

Akoya provides generous benefits for its full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Eleven federal holidays
• Vacation and sick & personal time
• And more!

Akoya is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, in compliance with applicable laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations, affords equal opportunities for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, age, creed, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.